Apparatus for handling laths



E. F. COCKREHAM II a Patented Mar. 17, 1925 UNITED STATES ass-0.23 s

EMORY r. COCKREHAM, or

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS HANDLING LATE-IS.

I Application filed May 14,

TOWN whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, Enron): F. Coonnia- HAM, a citizen of the United States. re siding at 'Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Laths. of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to lathing apparatus and consists of the novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

An object is to make an apparatus for expediting the work or taking bundles of lath and applying the laths to walls or the like for use.

Another object is to make an apparatus for handling laths comprising a stacker, a stack carrier for taking a stack from the stacker, a magazine into which the stacks are lied and spaced apart, an assembly carrier adapted'to take a series of laths from the magazine and place the'series of laths in position for attachment, and adjustable grippers to clamp the laths in place while the nails are being applied.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings and specification.

The drawings illustrate theconstruetion of an apparatus for handling laths in accordance with the principles of my invention and also illustrate the method of op eration.

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the assembly carrier in position holding a series of laths ina wall ready to be nailed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking downwardly as indicated by the arrows, and as to the assembly carrier, the view may be regarded as looking in the direction indicatedby the arrow 2 in Fig. 4:.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 3-3 ofFigs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the lath assembly carrier as seen looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 4 in Figs. 2 and 3. a,

Fig. 5 is aperspective of one of the turnbuckle grippers shown in Figs. 2, 3 and i.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a magazine filled with stacks of laths and showing the assembly carrier in position to be applied .to and remove a series of laths from the magazine.

Fig. 7 is aperspective of the lath stacker.

Fig. 8 isa perspective' ofithe lath stack 1924. Serial at. 713,215.

carrier holding a stack of laths ready to be placed in the magazine and released.

Fig; 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail on'the line 99 of Fig. 8 and looking-in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The details of the "apparatus for handling laths shown in the drawings andthe method or operation are as follows:

The lath stacker 1 is adapted for assembling the assorted laths into stacks 2 and the stack carrier 1 is adapted for taking a stack of lath and placing the stack in the magazine 3, and the assembly carrier 4; takes one lath from the top of each stack and places the assemblies of laths against the wall posts 5, and the pair 0t grippers 6 and 6 clamps the assemblies of laths to the wall posts while. the laths are being nailed to the posts. a i

The details of the stacker 1- are as follows:

A bottom 1 is rigidly sec ured 'to' ends 1"- and 1 Sides 1 and 1 extend upwardly from one end of the bottom 1 and inwardly from the end 1 and sides l and 1 extend upwardly from theother end of the bottom l and inwardly from the end 1. A hopper 1 is pivotally or rotatably mounted between the extreme upper ends of the sides 1 and 1 The hopper l? is formed with solid circular ends and laths connecting the ends, and is adapted to receive a bundle of lath. The bundle may be placed in the hopper P, the ties cut or broken, and the hopper 1 tilted to drop'the laths one at a time downwardly between thesides 1 and 1 at one end and the sides 1 and 1 at the other end, so that the laths will fall fiat upon the bottom l or so that the laths may be manipulated to pile upon the bottom 1* and form a stack 2. i

The details of the stack carrier -1 are as follows:

Metal straps 7 and 7 are bent at their centers to form the spacing portions 8 and 9 and to form parallel arms extending from the spacing portions 8 and -9 and forming spaceslO and 11 between the pairs of arms. A diamond brace construction 12 connects the upper ends of the pairs of arms. Keys 13 and 14 are remqvably insertedthrough the lower ends of the pairs-of arms. :VVhen the stacker 1 has formed a stack .2, the stack carrier 1 is placed in position upon the stack by moving the hopper 1*to a vertical posl tion andlnserting the arms of the carrier downwardly straddle of the stack in the space between the sides 1 and l and 1 and 1 and inserting the keys 13 and 1a through the arms under the stack Then the carrier 1 and stack 2 are raised out of the stacker 1*. Preferably I place fifty laths in a stack 2.

The details of the magazine 3 are as follows:

A rectangular substantial board floor 15 is constructed, channel bars 16 are secured to the ends of the floor 15 and their flanges are turned inwardly to receive the ends of the stacks 2 in the channels, the flanges serving to space the stacks apart. Braces 17 are secured against the outer faces of the channels 16 near their upper ends. Braces 19 and 20 are secured against the sides of the floor 15 and to the upper parts of contiguous channels 16 to hold the channels upright. Preferably the magazines 3 are constructed to hold ten stacks 2 as shown in Fig. 6. The diamond brace 12 and the upper parts of the metal straps '7 and '7 serve as handles for manipulating the stacks 2 and the carrier and stack is bodily placed in position in the magazine, the keys l3 and 1% removed, and the carrier removed, leaving the stack in place in the magazine, and this operation is repeated until the magazine is filled.

The details of the assembly carrier l are as follows:

The parallel side bars 21 and 22 are rigid- 1y connected by the parallel end bars 23 and 2-1. The bars 21, 22, 23 and 2a are preferably made of channel iron and welded together. Small pointed brads 25 project from the lower or back faces of the bars 23 and 24 the brads of the bars 23 and 24 being propery spaced apart and alined so that when the carrier is placed on top of the SlidilKS 2 in the magazine 3 and pressed or driven downwardly, the brads 25 will enter the top lath of each stack and secure the lath to the carrier in properly spaced relations to form a lath assembly to be applied to a wall. Guide lugs 22 engage the first lath, said lugs extending from the bar 22 backwardly to space a new assembly from an old assembly.

The details of the adjustable grippers 6 and 6 are as follows:

Parallel bars 26 and 27 are secured to the top or front faces of the bars .23 and 24 to form a track, said bars being preferably fiat straps having straight inner edges equally spaced apart and forming the track space 28. Braces 29 and 30 connect the central portions of the bars 26 and 27 together and to the ends of the bar 22, said braces extending under the bars 26 and 27. The grippers 6 and 6 are substantially alike and each gripper has a bearing block 31 consisting of wide flanges 32 and 33 bearing upon the bars 26 and 27, a neck 34 fitting in the space 28 between the inner edges of the bars 26 and 27 and the narrow flanges 35 and 36 fitting belowthe bars 26 and 27, so that the blocks 3i will readily slide upon the track bars 26 and 27. I A gripping bar 37 is rigidly mounted through one end of the bearing block 31 in a plane crosswise and through the space 28 and has a brad 38 extending laterally from its lower or rear end. A second gripping bar 39 extends through a slot 40 in the bearing block 31,,there being a pair of ears l1 extending upwardly or forwardly from the bearing blot-l: one ear at each side of the slot 40 and a pivot pin 42 inserted through the ears 41 and 39. A brad 43 extends laterally from the lower or rear end of the bar 39 towards and in opposition to the brad 38. A turnbuckle construction 44: is connected to the upper or forward ends of the bars 37 and 3 by pivot pins and 46.

The turnbuckle constructions 4,4, are operated to spread the brads 38 and 4:3 apart and when the carrier with the series of laths is about to be placed in position in the wall the grippers 6 and 6 are moved to or from each other to bring the wall posts 5 and 5 between the ripping bars 37 and 39 of each gripper, and then the turnbuckle constructions a l are operated to force the brads 38 and 43 into the posts, thereby holding the carrier and clamping the series of laths against the posts until the laths are nailed. Then the turnbuckle constructions are reversely operated to release the grippers and carriers.

Thus I have produced an apparatus for handling laths comprising a magazine, a stacker for placing the laths in a stack, a stack carrier for placing the stacks, an assembly carrier for taking a properly arranged series of laths from the magazine and placing the laths in position in a wall, and grippers for holding the carrier and laths while the nails are being applied.

1 have also produced a method for applying laths which consists of providing a magazine, a stacker, a stack carrier, an assembly carrier, and grippers, piling the laths in the stacker, applying a stack carrier to the stacks, placing the carrier and piled laths in the magazine, removing the carrier and leaving the stacks of laths in the magazine, applying the assembly carrier to the stacks of laths to remove the top lath of each stack, placing the carrier and series of laths in position in a wall, gripping the carrier and series of laths to the wall, nailing the laths, and removing the grippers and carrier.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. The method of handling laths, which consists of providing a magazine, a stacker, a stack carrier, an assembly carrier and prising a stackerdn which the laths are grippers, piling the laths in the stacker, applying the stack carrier, placing the stack carrier and piled laths in the magazine, removing the stack carrier and leaving the stacks of laths in the magazine, applying the assembly carrier to the stacks of laths to remove the top lath of each stack, placing the carrier and series of laths in position in a Wall, gripping the carrier and series of laths to the Wall, nailing the laths, and removing the grippers and carrier.

2. An apparatus for handling laths comrisin a ma azine ada ted to hold a series of stacks, means for placing the laths in stacks in the n'iagazinc, a carrier for removing the upper lath oi each stack and applying the series of laths thus removed in position in a Wall, and means for holding the carrier with the series of laths While the laths are being nailed.

3. An apparatus for handling laths comprising a magazine adapted to hold a series of stacks, a means for placing the laths in the magazine, a carrier for removing a se ries of laths from the magazine and applying the laths in position in a Wall, and means {or holding the carrier with the series of laths While the laths are being nailed.

4. An apparatus for handling laths comapplied to form a stack, a magazine in Which the stacks are placed and released, the stacks being arranged properly spaced apart by the magazine, a carrier having brads to penetrate the upper laths of each stack and remove the series of laths and place the series of laths in position in a Wall, and

means for holding the carrier While the laths are being nailed.

5. A magazine adapted to receive stacks of laths properly spaced apart, means for placing the stacks oi laths in the magazine, and a carrier for removing a series of laths comprising the top lath of each stack and placing the series or laths in position in a Wall and holding the laths while they are being nailed.

6. A magazine adapted to hold the stacks of laths properly positioned and spaced apart, a carrier comprising a rectangular frame having brads to remove a series of laths from the magazine, said series consisting of the top lath of each stack, and means for gripping the carrier and series or laths in position in a wall While the laths are being nailed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

E. F. GOCKREHAM. 

